R36H vs R36 Max: Which Should You Buy?
Both run on the same RK3326 chip, so they play the same games equally well. The difference is shape. The R36H is a horizontal handheld with a 3.5-inch 4:3 screen, while the R36 Max is a vertical, Game Boy-style device with a square 4-inch 720×720 screen and a bigger 4000mAh battery.
Quick Verdict
🏆 R36H for a comfortable horizontal grip; R36 Max for Game Boy games and battery.
For NES, SNES, Genesis and PlayStation, the picture is practically the same size on both. The R36 Max pulls ahead only on square-ish handheld systems like the Game Boy and Game Boy Color.
R36H vs R36 Max Specs
| R36H | R36 Max | |
|---|---|---|
| Layout | Horizontal | Vertical (Game Boy style) |
| Screen | 3.5" IPS, 640×480 (4:3) | 4.0", 720×720 (1:1) |
| Chip | Rockchip RK3326, 1GB RAM | Rockchip RK3326, 1GB RAM |
| Battery | 3000mAh, removable | 4000mAh |
| Storage | Two microSD slots | Two microSD slots |
| Wi-Fi / Bluetooth | None on most units | None |
| Video out | None | None |
| Size | About 145 × 69 × 16 mm | About 83 × 153 × 35 mm |
Sources: Retrocatalog (R36H), Retrocatalog (R36 Max), Pocket Retro Gaming, Tech Tactician. Sellers also use “R36 Max” for other devices, such as a 4.5-inch “R36 MAX II”, so check the listing's screen size and chip.
The Screen Is the Real Difference
A bigger number on the spec sheet does not always mean a bigger picture. The R36 Max's 4-inch square screen is about 2.83 inches wide. The R36H's 3.5-inch 4:3 screen is 2.8 inches wide. So a 4:3 game such as a SNES or PlayStation title appears at almost exactly the same physical size on both, around 2.8 × 2.1 inches, with black bars above and below on the R36 Max.
The square screen pays off with square-ish systems. A Game Boy or Game Boy Color game fills most of the R36 Max's screen, giving a picture almost 50% larger in area than on the R36H. If most of your library is Game Boy, Game Boy Color or Neo Geo Pocket, that is a real advantage.
Performance: Identical
With the same RK3326 chip and 1GB of RAM, both handle 8-bit, 16-bit, Game Boy Advance and most PlayStation games at full speed. Nintendo 64, PSP and Dreamcast work game by game on either one. Neither is an upgrade in power, so choose on shape and screen, not speed.
Grip, Size and Battery
The R36H's horizontal layout places your hands either side of the screen like a modern controller, which most people find more comfortable for long sessions and for analog-heavy PlayStation games. The R36 Max is taller and thicker. It feels closer to a classic Game Boy and carries a larger 4000mAh battery. The R36H's 3000mAh cell is removable, so you can swap in a spare.
Which One To Buy
Buy the R36H if you mostly play 4:3 systems (NES, SNES, Genesis, PlayStation), want the more comfortable horizontal grip, or like the idea of a replaceable battery. Buy the R36 Max if your favourites are Game Boy and Game Boy Color titles, you prefer a vertical classic-handheld feel, or you want the larger battery.
Leaning Towards the R36 Max?
Several resellers list the R36 Max on Amazon. Check that the listing says 4.0-inch 720×720, since other devices share the name.
Check Price →For a deeper look at the R36 Max itself, including its variants, see r36smax.com, our sister guide dedicated to the R36 Max family.
See also: R36H vs R36H Pro Max · R36H vs R36S · All comparisons